SINGAPORE'S Young Lions and Young Tigers A will cross borders to make their debuts in next season's M-League and S-League respectively.
This is part of the long-term partnership agreement between the FA of Malaysia (FAM) and the FA of Singapore (FAS), which both parties signed at Wisma FAM in Kelana Jaya yesterday.
Both associations will work hand-in-hand to help develop football in their respective countries. The agreement also includes regular friendly matches at all levels.
The League Challenge and Cup Challenge competitions will be introduced next year as part of the collaboration.
The champions of the M-League and S-League will play a two-leg tie for the League Challenge Cup while the Cup Challenge competition will be between the respective FA Cup and Singapore Cup winners.
Singapore were once the giants of the Malaysian League before FAS withdrew its team from the league after winning the Malaysia Cup in 1994. Young Lions (Singapore Under-23 side), however, played in the FA Cup in the 2005/06 season, where they bowed out to Perlis in the semi-finals.
Tigers A will be the first Malaysian team to play a full season in the S-League which was incepted in 1996. The team, who comprise mostly players from the Olympic squad, will also compete in the Singapore Cup and League Cup.
As for the Lions (Singapore's Under-23 team), they will play in the Super League, Malaysia Cup and FA Cup. The Singapore side will include five senior players together with two foreigners.
Tigers A and the Young Lions will play their home matches in their respective countries.
FAM deputy president Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah said both associations will gain from the new partnership.
"The collaboration will be for a four-year period starting next year. It will provide opportunities to both parties to develop football. Our youth players will definitely gain from this new venture."
Also at the signing ceremony were FAS president Zainudin Nordin, general secretary Winston Lee and FAM general secretary Datuk Azzuddin Ahmad.
But having Tigers A play in the S-League could pose a problem for coach Ong Kim Swee, who also has to prepare his team for the Olympic Qualifiers final stage, second round Group C matches. The team are due to play Bahrain (Feb 5), Japan (Feb 22) and Syria (March 14).
"The S-League schedule for next season has not been drawn up. Of course, the team will be given ample time to prepare for their Olympic matches. Both associations will draw up their respective league schedules in accordance to the international football calendar," said Kim Swee.
Kim Swee's commitments with his team in Singapore mean he will not have the time to identify and monitor new players to beef up his Olympic side. His team bound for the S-League will not include current Olympic players with other M-League sides.
On whether FAM had informed Kim Swee about having his team play in Singapore, Tengku Abdullah said the coach has been partially briefed.
"We have spoken to him but not in detail. We wanted our agreement with FAS to be finalised first," said Tengku Abdullah.
This is part of the long-term partnership agreement between the FA of Malaysia (FAM) and the FA of Singapore (FAS), which both parties signed at Wisma FAM in Kelana Jaya yesterday.
Both associations will work hand-in-hand to help develop football in their respective countries. The agreement also includes regular friendly matches at all levels.
The League Challenge and Cup Challenge competitions will be introduced next year as part of the collaboration.
The champions of the M-League and S-League will play a two-leg tie for the League Challenge Cup while the Cup Challenge competition will be between the respective FA Cup and Singapore Cup winners.
Singapore were once the giants of the Malaysian League before FAS withdrew its team from the league after winning the Malaysia Cup in 1994. Young Lions (Singapore Under-23 side), however, played in the FA Cup in the 2005/06 season, where they bowed out to Perlis in the semi-finals.
Tigers A will be the first Malaysian team to play a full season in the S-League which was incepted in 1996. The team, who comprise mostly players from the Olympic squad, will also compete in the Singapore Cup and League Cup.
As for the Lions (Singapore's Under-23 team), they will play in the Super League, Malaysia Cup and FA Cup. The Singapore side will include five senior players together with two foreigners.
Tigers A and the Young Lions will play their home matches in their respective countries.
FAM deputy president Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah said both associations will gain from the new partnership.
"The collaboration will be for a four-year period starting next year. It will provide opportunities to both parties to develop football. Our youth players will definitely gain from this new venture."
Also at the signing ceremony were FAS president Zainudin Nordin, general secretary Winston Lee and FAM general secretary Datuk Azzuddin Ahmad.
But having Tigers A play in the S-League could pose a problem for coach Ong Kim Swee, who also has to prepare his team for the Olympic Qualifiers final stage, second round Group C matches. The team are due to play Bahrain (Feb 5), Japan (Feb 22) and Syria (March 14).
"The S-League schedule for next season has not been drawn up. Of course, the team will be given ample time to prepare for their Olympic matches. Both associations will draw up their respective league schedules in accordance to the international football calendar," said Kim Swee.
Kim Swee's commitments with his team in Singapore mean he will not have the time to identify and monitor new players to beef up his Olympic side. His team bound for the S-League will not include current Olympic players with other M-League sides.
On whether FAM had informed Kim Swee about having his team play in Singapore, Tengku Abdullah said the coach has been partially briefed.
"We have spoken to him but not in detail. We wanted our agreement with FAS to be finalised first," said Tengku Abdullah.
No comments:
Post a Comment